Bournemouth vs Everton: Vitality Stadium Ready for Premier League Clash
Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium is set for a Premier League match against Everton, despite last-minute construction work.
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Construction Rush
Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium was a flurry of activity just 24 hours before the club's home match against Everton. Workers were applying the finishing touches to the smallest stadium in the Premier League, with large tarmac trucks repairing the car park and lorries marking the pitch.
The club has erected 10-foot metal and wooden fences around the stadium to keep spectators away from the ongoing construction. Despite the rush, Bournemouth has received a safety certificate in time for the match.
Team Preparations
Everton, under manager David Moyes, is looking to continue their perfect start to the season. The Blues have won their opening Premier League game against Crystal Palace and a Carabao Cup match against Preston North End.
David Moyes has several decisions to make regarding his lineup. James Garner and Hayden Hackney are both touch and go for the match, while Brennan Johnson and Thierno Barry are expected to feature. The team's form, especially Barry's hat-trick against Preston, has left Moyes with plenty to think about.
Bournemouth's European Ambitions
Bournemouth made history last season by qualifying for the Europa League after finishing sixth in the Premier League. The club's new German head coach, Marco Rose, took his first look at the pitch and revamped stadium on Thursday, just two days before the match.
Rose commented, 'We just came from training there and it looked really, really good. I like the place and the pitch is in perfect condition, so everything is sorted to play the game on Saturday.' Bournemouth aims to increase the stadium's capacity to over 22,000 by the summer of 2027.